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Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan Thursday met Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in capital Damascus.
Foreign Minister Fidan, who is in the Syrian capital as part of a working visit, was received by Sharaa for high-level talks.
The Foreign Ministry confirmed the visit in a statement: "Our Minister (Hakan Fidan) will conduct a working visit to Syria today."
Meanwhile according to the Syrian news agency SANA, the two officials discussed regional and international developments, as well as ways to enhance cooperation in various fields.
Following the talks Fidan reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to stand by the Syrian people and support their legitimate expectations following his recent visit to Syria.
Fidan shared his reflections on the visit via his X social media account, marking his third trip to Damascus in nine months since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. He noted significant progress Syria has made in various fields during this period.
Fidan emphasized security concerns, focusing on threats to Syria’s sovereignty and political unity. He stressed Türkiye’s ongoing support for Syria’s fight against terrorist organizations and expressed readiness to assist the Syrian government with managing and securing camps in northeastern Syria.
The talks also addressed Israel’s targeted actions against Syria, which Fidan criticized for destabilizing the region. He called on the international community, especially the United States and European countries, to share responsibility in preventing such destabilizing policies.
During the current period when opportunities for cooperation exist across various fields in Türkiye-Syria relations, Türkiye's priority is to utilize these opportunities in accordance with the common interests of both countries and in a way that serves Syria's stability and security.
For this purpose, mutual high-level visits between Türkiye and Syria continue without losing momentum.
The coordination of efforts for Syria's reconstruction and recovery will also naturally constitute an important dimension of the meeting.
The possibilities for institutionalizing bilateral cooperation between Türkiye and Syria were emphasized, and it was reiterated that Türkiye is ready to provide support to Syria in all areas.
According to sources, the current period presents opportunities for cooperation across various fields between Türkiye and Syria, with both countries working to seize these opportunities in line with their shared interests and support of Syria's stability and security.
Fidan's Dec. 22 visit to Syria in 2024 had constituted a first. This visit was followed by a working visit to Syria on March 13, together with Defense Minister Yasar Guler and National Intelligence Organization (MIT) head Ibrahim Kalin.
Additionally, Syrian President Sharaa and Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani have visited Türkiye on various occasions over the past eight months.
These visits focused on the security situation in Syria, addressing steps needed to achieve full stability in the country, and evaluating political, economic and humanitarian issues.
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